Pencil pointing device



June 12,1945. W.-K. CROWNFIELD 2,378,287

PENCIL POINTING DEVICE Filed June 16, 1944 Flam 104260; K GWMW LINVENTOR.

Patented June 12, 1945 2,378,287 rsncm'rom'rm'o DEVICE I WilliamK.'Crownfield, Franklin emits; Somerset County, N. J...

Application JunelB, 1944,;1se15iarN ;"5411, 37

Ih' isjiinverition. relates to a pencil pointing device,andfmoreparticularly.to. a small device of this character that canreadily and quickly be used any number of. times without material'inconvenience to the user.

Many types of work require that the worker have a sharply pointed pencilat all times. For example, draftsmen and accountants require sharplypointed pencils at all times. The usual pencil sharpener not only pointsthe lead, but also removes a great deal of the lead as well as V thesurrounding wood and is not only usually inconveniently placed but verywasteful both of the pencil, and of the users time. The usual files andabrasive pads now commonlyused to repoint the leads of pencils areunsatisfactory in many respects. They usually provide no receptacle forthe refuse or grindings, and provide no guiding medium or provision forfacilitating forming of a proper point upon the lead..

It is the purpose of this invention to provide an improved pencilpointer particularly adapted to repointing the lead of a pencil, andfree from the disadvantages of devices of this character as heretoforeknown. The advantages of a pencil pointer embodying the principles ofthis invention will be more apparent from the following descriptiongiven in connection with the drawing inwhich:

Fig. I is a perspective view of a pencil pointer constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. II is a section taken on line A--A of Fig. I and Fig. III is a viewsimilar to Fig. II of a modified form of this invention.

As can be seen from Fig. I, the pencil pointer of this inventioncomprises essentially a file memher I, preferably for most purposes afiat file, mounted in a relatively long narrow tray 2. The

ends of the tray are raised and grooved vertically as at 3' to receivethe end portions of the file l and support and retain the latterhorizontally with the filing surfacesdisposed vertically. The file maybe retained in the slots by'any suitable adhesive or by frictional fit.

The tray 2 may be made of wood, metal, plastic or any other suitablematerial and is preferably about three inches long and of suchproportions relatively to the file that the latter projects aboutone-eighth or three-sixteenths of an inch above the top edges 4 of theside walls of the tray. The end walls of the tray are raised aspreviously stated to the level of the top edge of the file as shown inFig. I to provide greater support and also protection. Preferably thereis a slight 6 Claims. 01. -89) clearance between thebottom edge of,thefile and the bottom of the tray to'facili'tate cleaning of thetray rIn. Fig. 'II-YI', there is s own a slightl modified formfofthisginventio'n in which a tray 5 is fitted with triangular file '6instead of a flat file. In this form, the file is set with an apex down,that is, with a horizontal top surface and two inwardly inclined sidesurfaces. This form has some advantages when the usual wood ormechanical pencils are being pointed and provides more protection forthe dirty surfaces of the file. The form disclosed in Figs. I and II isadaptable to all types of-pencils and to draftsmans instruments as welland is, in its application.

In use, the lead of the pencil is brought into contact with the filesurface at a sharp angle; by resting the pencil upon the upper edge 4 ofone side wall 2, as shown in Figs. I and III (and upon upper edge I inFig. III), using the latter as a guide or rest; and stroked across thelength therefore, more universal of the file once or twice. By rotatingandstroking at the same time, a needle-like point is obtainable, whereasby stroking without rotating the pencil'about its own axis, a knife-likeor chisel-point edge is formed. The lead particles fall into the bottomof the tray and are there confined until the tray is emptied.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided anefficient, conveniently usable and simply constructed portable pencilpointer, using a minimum number of parts that can be manufactured andassembled very cheaply, and one in which the proportions are such thatthe soiled surfaces of the file are, for the most part, not readilyaccessible so as to be likely to be touched by the user. Otheradvantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, to whom it willalso be apparent that minor changes can surfaces between and parallel tothe side walls of said tray, the top edges of said side walls serving asa rest for the pencil as it is being pointed. 2. A portable pencilpointing device comprising a relatively long narrow tray, having sideand means for sup-.

end walls, the end walls being provided with vertical grooves, and afiat file within said tray and having its ends engaged in said groovesfor supporting the file with its filing faces between and parallel tothe side walls of the tray and with the top of the file slightly abovethe side walls of the tray, the top edges of said side walls serving asa rest for the pencil as it is being pointed.

3. A portable pencil pointing device comprising a relatively long narrowtray having side and end walls, the end walls extending above the sidewalls and being provided with means for supporting a file within saidtray, and a fiat file within said tray and having its ends engaged bysaid supporting means for supporting the file with its filing facesbetween and parallel to the side wallsoi' the tray and with the top ofthe file slightly above the side walls of the tray, the top edges ofsaid side walls serving as a rest for the pencil as it is being pointed.

4. A portable pencil pointing device comprising a relatively long narrowtray having side and end walls, the end walls extending above the sidewalls and being provided with vertical grooves, and a flat file withinsaid tray and having its ends engaged in said grooves for supporting thefile with its filing faces between and parallel to the side walls of thetray and with the top of the file slightly above the side walls of thetray and with the lowermost edge of the file free from the bottom of thetray, the top edges of said side walls serving as a rest for the pencilas it is being pointed.

5. A portable pencil pointing device comprising a relatively long narrowtray having side Walls, and a file supported in said tray lengthwisethereof and parallel to the side walls of the tray, said file havinginclined side file surfaces arranged at an angle to said side walls, thetop edges of the latter serving as arest for the pencil as it ispointed.

6. A portable pencil pointing device comprising a relatively long narrowtray having side walls, and a file supported in said tray lengthwisethereof and parallel to the side walls of the tray, said file havinginclined side file surfaces being arranged with said surfaces inclinedinwardly and downwardly with respect to the bottom of said tray, the topedges of said side walls serving as a rest for the pencil as it is beingpointed.

WILLIAM K. CROWNFIELD.

